This crossword wall art is perfect for kids! The natural wood letters are assembled to form a crossword puzzle with each letter paired with a cute symbol of an object that starts with the same letter shown.
(available from Posh Tots)
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) is thrilled to announce that there are now three buildings in South Africa which have been certified under the GBCSA’s Green Star SA rating system, one of these achieving both a Design and an As Built Certification.
These innovative buildings are starting to set the standards in terms of commercial green buildings and are the first to achieve independent certification in SA, with many more in the pipeline. “We are excited that we are covering both office and retail centre buildings with our current ratings tools, and very pleased with the take up of these tools in the South African market.” says Bruce Kerswill, GBCSA Executive Chairperson.
The GBCSA, after launching the first and second tools in the Green Star SA green building rating system toolset – these being Green Star SA Office v1 and Green Star SA Retail Centre v1 – have awarded four certifications to date and received applications from 15 other projects.
“While a number of projects are working towards the Green Star SA standards and benchmarks and even more using the tool as a guideline, four certifications have already been awarded,” explains Manfred Braune, Technical Executive of the GBCSA.
The first projects certified are:
1. Nedbank Phase II in Sandton, is the first project in SA to achieve a 4 Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 rating in October of 2009 as well as a 4 Star Green Star SA Office As Built v1 rating in September 2010;
This 45 000m2 extension of Nedbank’s existing head offices in Sandton Johannesburg, scored highest under the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ), Management and Transport categories of the Green Star SA tool. The building is designed to capture and recycle rainwater, which will save significant volumes of water daily by reusing it in the building. The project has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment for an onsite blackwater treatment plant (sewage treatment) that is pending approval from the authorities.
Nedbank Phase II has provided increased fresh air rates to the building (as compared to national building code), a CO2 monitoring system and maximised external views – these are all initiatives that improve the indoor environment quality, and impact on the occupants’ health, comfort and productivity. To save energy the project has also included an efficient central air-conditioning plant, variable speed drives for air-conditioning and an individually addressable digital lighting control system. The water savings will largely be achieved through the use of water efficient fixtures and fittings, as well as the rainwater treatment plant. The development is in close proximity to the Gautrain, and to regular taxi and bus routes, as well as to amenities that are in walking distance, which are all aspects that contributed towards the high scores achieved under the transport category.
2. Nedbank Ridgeside in Durban North received a 4 Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 rating;
Nedbank Ridgeside, the first project in KZN to achieve a Green Star SA rating, is a 9 300m2 new office building in the Ridgeside office park development on the Umhlanga Ridge. Developed by Zenprop, with Nedbank as the tenant, the architecture is “contemporary, but with a strong ecologically sustainable design influence” says David Talbot of dhk architects, the lead designers.
The project scored highest under the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ), Energy and Water categories of the Green Star SA tool.
In the IEQ category, this was achieved largely through increased fresh air rates to the building, CO2 monitoring and control of the office space, as well as maximising the daylight into the building, maximising external views and using low VOC paints (Volatile Organic Compounds), low formaldehyde composite wood products. To save energy the Nedbank Ridgeside project has included an efficient central air-conditioning plant, highly efficient fluorescent office lighting design and a light switching zoning strategy. The water savings will largely be achieved through the use of water efficient fixtures and fittings, as well as through rainwater capture and recycling, as well as reduced potable water requirements for landscaping.
3. The Villa Mall in Pretoria received a 4 Star Green Star SA Retail Centre Design v1 rating in October of this year.
Villa Mall is the first project in South Africa to achieve a Green Star SA – Retail Centre Design v1 rating. This new, 130 000m2 shopping centre in Pretoria, which is being developed by Capicol, plans to have over 300 tenants, and scored highest under the Management, Energy, Transport and Water categories of the Green Star SA tool, says Braune.
In the Management category, this was achieved largely through committing to extensive commissioning of equipment, quarterly monitoring for the year after practical completion, as well as the development of a ‘green lease’ that tenants are signing. The main aims of the green lease are to ensure that quantities of energy, water and waste are monitored, tracked and improvements targeted annually, with related responsibilities between the landlord and tenant recorded in the green lease. To save energy the project design has included energy efficient Variable Refrigerant Volume systems for air-conditioning of tenancies, a highly efficient lighting design as well as a large photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof of the parking deck. According to the design, the PV array will be the largest in the country to be located on a building – approximately 2MW peak power.
The water savings will largely be achieved through the use of water efficient fixtures and fittings, as well as through grey water (shower and basin water) and rainwater capture and recycling, and reduced potable water requirements for landscaping due to selection of plants that will not require irrigation - these are all aspects included in the project design.
Green Star SA is a voluntary green building rating system under which developers may apply to have their projects rated and certified by the GBCSA.
The Green Star SA tools are designed for use by owners, developers and consultants (architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, building contractors etc.) to independently rate and certify property developments via a common green building ‘language’ . The tool encourages these stakeholders to minimise the environmental impacts of their developments, and to receive recognition for their design initiatives.
Braune advises that the key objectives of the Green Star SA rating tools are as follows:
Nicola Milne, CEO of the GBCSA says that the GBCSA is currently working on its third tool, Green Star SA for Multi Unit Residential buildings, which it aims to launch in PILOT form in December 2010.
“We are very excited to have awarded our first 4 Green Star SA certifications and with the number of applications coming in. It is a significant task for developers to put together a submission and the fact that we are seeing good uptake of the tools shows that the South African property industry is ready to adopt global best practises in green building,” concluded Milne.
For more information about Green Star SA, certification and professional accreditation and courses offered by the GBCSA, visit www.gbcsa.org.za or email info@gbcsa.org.za.
Article from www.gbcsa.org.za
Article from:
NewspaperWood (KrantHout)
Every day, piles of newspapers are discarded and recycled into new paper. Mieke Meijer has come up with a solution to use this surplus of paper into a renewed material. When a NewspaperWood log is cut, the layers of paper appear like lines of a wood grain or the rings of a tree and therefore resembles the aesthetic of real wood. The material can be cut, milled and sanded and generally treated like any other type of wood.
status | Mieke Meijer is currently working together with designlabel Vij5 to develop NewspaperWood and in a later stage products will be included into the product
collection of Vij5. This project is realised with the help of the Dutch newspaper ‘Eindhovens Dagblad’.
"I love creating functional art from discarded non functional junk"
Interior designer Katie Thompson began Recreate last year – a redecorating and renovating design label that transforms discarded junk in to unique and useful interior design pieces. Here are some of her more recent items…
In her latest collection she has made the suitcase chair, milk pail ottomans, tea cup and saucer lamp and coffee table tub. All these are really special statements and yet so functional and practical.
Katie blends South African craftsmanship with high end finishes and makes use of her own eclectic and perfectionist flair for design. Her original pieces are created with honesty and integrity and are always full of surprises.
Recreate’s philosophy is to continuously strive for the unconventional in every project. While her pieces may be unusual, they are timeless.
Graduating with a distinction from Design Time School of Interior Design in Cape Town, Katie has seven years experience in the design, furniture and fabric industry in London and Cape Town behind her name.
The inspiration behind Recreate was Katie’s passion for transforming the ordinary in to the extraordinary.
Katie never works within established stylistic boundaries. She creates an eclectic combination of styles, materials and finishes; this skill highlights her passion and her ability to find the intrinsic beauty and new, hidden purpose in the old, discarded items she chooses for her pieces.
She admits to being a hoarder of all things useless, impractical, broken, colourful and shiny. Many of us would cast away such things but her creative mind resurrects such items and gives them a new lease on life.
By nature an extremely energetic, bubbly and creative individual, Katie’s energy filters through to her work and into her pieces and the lives of her clients.
Recreate is a beautiful, modern and contemporary design line with plenty of possibilities.
Source: Recreate
In between projects I keep myself out of trouble with a bit of creative doodling. Generally this has included making a bird feeder, sewing lamp shades, making scatter cusions, and of late... I've gone moggy over beading. I've made some beautiful pieces, some vintage style, some whimsical, some outrageous and daring. I'm now selling these uniquly individual peices on Jamtin. Just in time for Christamas gifts!!!
I use the highest quality findings, Fresh water and cultured pearls, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, semi-precious gems, designed locally by yours truely. Jewellery can be ordered from the Jamtin store and will be delivered via courier, within 1-3 days,
Overseas orders: Please use an online currency converter to convert the ‘South African Rand’ or ‘ZAR’ prices into your currency.
How to order: Send me an email at intrepidesigner@gmail.com and let me know what you would like to purchase. I will email you an invoice and you can pay via an EFT.
My latest project was a small private lodge purposely built for a mineral mining group.
The lodge is situated just outside the aptly named town of Hotazel, and is as far off the beaten path without crossing any borders, as one can imagine, complete with rolling tumble-weed and mini dust tornadoes.
Set on a bush-covered, featureless plain, Hotazel is home to Samancor’s Mamatwan open-quarry manganese ore mine and sinter plant, and underground manganese ore mine and railway terminus.
The décor and furnishings of KMR Lodge are Africa-inspired with an elegant contemporary edge, with beautiful jaw-dropping handmade twig chandeliers, stylishly coordinated upholstery and objet to compliment the aesthetic . The rooms are each equipped with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.The lodge also features a disabled unit.
7 Thatched chalets are spread out in V-formation on either side of the lodge club house, offering panoramic views of the Northern Cape landscape and vast bird population. Each unit is uniquely decorated and sophisticatedly accessorised.
The lodge club house facilitates a dining area, lounge, and pub. The outside lapa offers a beautiful evening boma, a welcome swimming pool and covered area to take the sting out of its onomatopoeic name.
Special thanks to Phambili Interiors for the opportunity to work on such a rewarding project; Eco Log Homes, Campos Transport, Highthorn and Craft steel, Blok Products, Amatuli, Sleepeezzi, Sorelle, Jungle furniture, Jungleboard, Pyramid Pictures, Mainstream Media, Paras rugs, Patio solutions, Bare essentials and Continental Linen.
Here are some great tips to improve your home in more ways than one.
Research and planning...
1. When you're planning your budget the last thing you want to do is spend money unnecessarily on your home so it's worth researching which improvements will boost your home's value and those which won’t.
2. An extension could add between 10 and 50 percent to the value of your home, depending on its size and how well it's finished - the key is to get it right.
Plenty of rooms but a tiny kitchen?
Add on a downstairs extension. Got a huge garden but a small house? Build upwards to create the family home of your dreams. A loft conversion could add up to 10 per cent to the value of your home and, unlike a ground floor extension; it won't steal space from the garden. The ideal? Get a bedroom and extra bathroom up there.
In the kitchen...
3. Planning a new kitchen is an absolute must for anyone seriously looking to boost their home's value - adding up to as much as 10 per cent in value to your home.
It's the first thing a potential buyer will look for if you’re looking to sell in the future, and it's also the room you're likely to spend most of your time in, particularly if it is a kitchen and living space all in one. The secret? Pick one that matches the style of your home - so choose a contemporary kitchen for a modern home, or something more traditional for a period property.
Replacing your kitchen doors and old appliances with new, good quality appliances will go a long way to giving your kitchen that just-renovated feel, but at a fraction of the cost while replacing kitchen wall tiles and worktops will instantly smarten up a tatty kitchen, as will new hard flooring throughout.
In the bathroom...
4. Squeezing in an en suite bathroom could add up a further five percent to the value of your home. The best bet is to put one into - or steal space from - a large bedroom. Revamping your bathroom will add to the appeal of your home. You needn’t hire a plumber if you’re a competent DIYer – fitting a new sink isn’t as hard as you’d think, while re-tiling the walls and floor, grouting and sealing around a basin or bath is easy too.
Decorating...
5. Redecorating is an easy - and not necessarily expensive - way to improve your home. Paint is the cheapest way – and there are lots of easy to live with, space-enhancing colour schemes to choose from. With a little practice, anyone can create their own paint effects in a colour scheme to match their taste.
Stenciling is really making a credit crunch comeback, too, because it can create an expensive look at a minimal cost.
Carpets, repairs and saving energy...
6. Replacing outdated carpets can transform a room instantly. Current trends are bold and patterned, but go for something classic and easy to live with instead.
7. Dealing with problems your house has while you’re staying put makes sense – trying to do so in the run up to putting it on the market will be stressful and pricey. Instead, spend money now and sort out plumbing issues. Identify and deal with damp and restore fittings and fixtures if need be.
8. Find ways to save energy and use extra cash on eco-friendly improvements. Do this by improving insulation in your home. The bonus? You’ll cut your electricity bill!
Garden fixes...
9. Turning a neglected plot into a glamorous garden can have a real impact on your home and how you feel about it. You needn’t spend a fortune – just a few clever ideas and regular maintenance can do the trick.
10. If you have a large garden and want to add a little more indoor space without building an extension, why not consider an outdoor room? This will give you space for anything from a home office to an extra lounging area, to somewhere for the kids to play. Of course, you might want to spruce up your garden by simply adding a new garden dining set, whether wooden, metal or funky and contemporary. The only effort involved is paying for it.
Source: Tips from Janice Anderssen: Women24's Decor and DIY expert. Visit www.homedzine.co.za for more.
“Identified as the 2010 Colour of the Year by the acclaimed Pantone Colour Institute, turquoise represents optimism, serenity and deep compassion.” So says Sumien Brink, editorial director of Plascon SPACES, published by New Media Publishing.
The much-anticipated first issue of the 72-page glossy magazine offers a full colour spectrum of tips and advice, from step-by-step projects to top-to-toe makeovers, plus real-life decorating and renovation features, for just R14,95.
“Although ancient in its origins, turquoise is utterly en vogue,” continues Brink. “This bold and stimulating yet still restful colour can be incorporated into your interior regardless of whether your home is traditional or contemporary.”
Plascon Colour Manager Anne Roselt concurs. “Inspired by the ocean, turquoise is not only invigorating and uplifting but also calming,” she says. “It also aids communication, so it is no wonder it is so big at the moment. In addition to white, it also pairs well with gold and chocolate brown.”
By using quality paint, you can quickly and cost-effectively redecorate and transform your environment with this season’s hottest hue. Here is a handful of tips from the latest issue of Plascon SPACES:
MAKE A SPLASH Use turquoise as an accent colour to introduce an element of surprise in a traditional or natural décor scheme. Think accessories, such as lampshades, cushions, rugs and wall hangings.
CREATE CONTRAST To balance out the colour’s inherent coolness, team turquoise with rich, contrasting colours such as gold, orange and chocolate brown.
GO RETRO Combined with black, paler shades of turquoise have a distinct 1950s American feel: think bubblegum-blue Cadillacs and kitchen appliances.
LIFE AQUATIC Because of its strong association with water, turquoise is the ideal colour for a spa-like bathroom. A watery palette evokes thoughts of holidays and rest and signals a return of balance and poise.
For those decorators who don’t want to go boldly blue this winter, the Plascon SPACES editorial team has included all this season’s must-have hues throughout the magazine from fiery orange to punchy purple. Another highlight in the new issue is a perforated pull-out section with quick tips, environmentally friendly info and shortcuts to transform any home.
Plascon SPACES will be available three times a year in April, July and November. The first issue is currently on shelf in major book stores, selected Woolworths, Spars and CNA stores as well as various Plascon stockists throughout the country. At R14,95, it’s sure to attract the attention of and add value to anyone looking to redecorate their home with Plascon paint
Although the words ‘stylish’, ‘elegant’ and ‘tasteful’ are rarely used in conjunction with the term ‘eco-friendly’, with their green home, celebrities Michelle and Riaan Garforth-Venter have adequately proved that this can be the case.
From the exterior, the house displays the rugged, earthy look you’d expect from a home considered to be green, but the architecturally skilful way in which raw brick, plaster, wood, stone and glass have been combined belies its eco-wise credentials.
Those familiar with their TV show, Love & Mortar (on DStv’s Home Channel), would have watched as the home, which the couple term ‘bio-climatic’, developed. The result, however, far exceeds Michelle and Riaan’s expectations.
Building an eco-home is complicated. Everything has to be taken into consideration, from the positioning of the home and the materials used to clever architecture to ensure light, heat and natural resources are used to their best advantage.
With this in mind, Anthony Papageorgiou Architects was selected to design the home. As a member of the Green Building Council SA, the company has long been involved with green building processes. They have ensured that most of the building materials used in the home are either recycled or reclaimed. Most of the walls are treated concrete and face brick, and VOC-free paint has been used throughout.
One of the first priorities in the design of the home was climate control, and to this end, rooms needing lots of sunlight are positioned on the outside of the home, while those needing less natural light, such as bathrooms, are positioned on the interior.
To ensure adequate insulation, not just the ceiling, but also the floors and walls were insulated, with polystyrene built into cavities (this isn’t totally eco-friendly, but the long-term benefits and energy savings can balance this out). Ensuring further insulation, the timber-framed windows are all double-glazed.
The home is off the grid, the couple electing instead to install solar thermal panels, which absorb heat, and photovoltaic-cell panels, which convert sunlight to electricity. Flat roof space was specially allocated to the house and garage, under which veld grass has been planted, to ensure the panels work as efficiently as possible (on a hot surface, they are less effective).
Water usage, of course, was another huge consideration. The home has rainwater catchment systems as well as grey-water recycling apparatus, which ensures that water coming off showers and washbasins goes through a Biolytix system, which uses composting worms to recycle impurities in the water.
A walk through the home gives a sense of calm. It’s fairly minimalist and modern, but with warm African touches. Most of the lower level is open plan, with raw cement floors linking the rooms to create an effortless flow. The high ceilings of the dining room, which is walled in raw face brick, give a feeling of spaciousness, with floor-to-ceiling windows along one side. In the centre is a massive 14-seat dining room table, with space for two at each end.
Caroline De Freitas of Sublime Interiors was responsible for the interior design. She had worked with Riaan in the past on his TV show, so he was familiar with her style and knew it would work in the home. ‘I’ve always been aware of the importance of using sustainable materials, and with this house I wanted to be as green as possible,’ she says.
Although the overriding décor theme is French Provençal, Caroline explains she has taken this style and given it her own interpretation: ‘I haven’t exactly gone by the French Provençal book, but decided instead to go beyond those boundaries and make it more exciting and interesting, to show that thought has gone into it.’ She has achieved this by including clean, modern lines and a distinctly African feel. ‘I wanted it to be eclectic. Because of the natural surroundings, it just made sense to bring in an earthy, natural feel.’
Above the dining room table are two previously fitted chandeliers with tiny lampshades decorated with white and black flowers, which Caroline took as the cue for her colour palette. ‘Riaan and Michelle were not prescriptive in what colours I was to use, so I took these to set the tone. To this neutral and black palate, I progressed to include shades of gold and whites.’
When it comes to the furniture used in the home, she was determined to keep the style clean, slick and modern, but still comfortable. ‘The dining room chairs are so comfortable that apparently they had a big dinner party the other night and no one wanted to leave the table.’
There is also a playful element to be found throughout the home. The kitchen bar stools, for example, are covered in faux silver snakeskin, and there’s some definite bling in the mirrored side tables in the bedroom. ‘Michelle loves crystal and shiny things, so this was right up her street,’ says Caroline.
Bamboo was used for the kitchen cupboards, as it’s sustainable and doesn’t emit chemical odours. Carefully whitewashed, they tie in with the modern feel of the rest of the home. All the kitchen appliances have an energy rating of ‘A’ or ‘A-plus’ – the most energy efficient on the market.
In the master bedroom, Caroline was once again inspired by the existing light fittings. ‘I wanted to create a really opulent feeling here,’ she says. She’s used leather on the headboard and brought in touches of blue in the cushions and throws on the bed. In an alcove to one side of the room is a larger-than-life painting of a leopard’s eye. Like the rest of the artwork, it brings a touch of African wilderness to the urban home, yet skirts the borders of cliché.
The main bathroom is en suite and features an egg-shaped bath and shower complete with energy-saving shower-head. All the toilets in the house are dual flush, allowing one some control over the amount of water used when flushing.
To save money and time – and to be more eco-friendly – Caroline’s used pre-lined fabric and a single track for most rooms in the home, though some rooms sport a double track for a layered effect. The ground-floor curtains are mostly a tobacco-linen-type fabric with a distinct texture and almost black hue to it. Upstairs, she has focused on grey. ‘I think grey is the new neutral,’ she says. ‘I didn’t want to go too over the top with the fabric, so this was perfect.’
Caroline says it was difficult to find eco-friendly décor items. ‘They are available, but we just do not have the wide variety available in Europe,’ she says – a feeling echoed by furniture designer Will van der Watt of ID8 Interiors, the interior design branch of CM Architects.
Will was responsible for much of the furniture design in the home. He says, ‘It was quite a challenge because most of the contemporary materials used in furniture are made of vinyl and plastics, so they aren’t exactly green. The best material would probably have been bamboo, but this is in short supply in this country.’ Instead, he has cleverly opted for meranti, a widely available fast-growing local hardwood that can be stained to any colour (using water-based stains, naturally).
Will has custom designed each furniture piece for its space, creating amazing oversized couches and using colour schemes that perfectly complement the rest of the home. For the bases of most pieces he’s used stainless steel, which is recyclable and readily available.
Other eco-friendly furniture items are the side tables in the living room, which High Thorn has created from bleached whitewashed wood.
Caroline’s favourite piece of furniture is the oversized couch in the living area. ‘I used three different fabrics to continue the French Provençal vibe, and I used soft suede on the seats for extra comfort,’ she explains.
Caroline believes the home will adapt and grow with its owners, and that its eclectic nature is what makes it so perfect for them. ‘The design is not so prescriptive as to prevent them from personalising it as time goes by. If they bring back keepsakes from their overseas travels, for example, they will be able to display them with comfort in the home.’ There is no doubt that this home will stand as a testament to the future of green South African homes, which is exactly what Riaan and Michelle intended.
Source: The property magazine
Paint, sketch, strut, act, design, sing, read, write, play? Yes, we can. Watch us.
OK, yes, Cape Town is cliquey. There's the music photographer set, the fine artist in-crowd, the independent film maker clique, the actress slash waitress bunch– so many. But you know what's so marvellous about it all? It's art; in essence, the practise of it means its practitioners mix and merge with each other and with the rest of us. They want to be seen and we want to see them. Or, at least, what they do. Far from the last colonial outpost, the jealous and the inspired agree; Cape Town is bristling with creative talent.
Why are we so inherently arty? I suppose because we're show-offs and snobs. The city's beautiful, its people are too. It isn't a fashion and film location destination for nothing. I bet its challenging history also plays a part – the impulse to analyse, romanticise, and satirise a complex past is pretty universal. To Cape Town. Bottom line is, if you're talking traditional and aesthetic and artistic expression, you're going to get an eyeful here. And an earful. And if you have cash or credit, even a handful.
Cape Town Bids for Design Capital Award
Did I mention that we're competitive, too? After hosting the World during the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the city is trying for a design related title in a bid to have its collective talents internationally recognised. The "World Design Capital 2014", from the International Council for Societies of Industrial Design (LCSID), is awarded biennially to cities "that use design for social, economic and cultural development." Recognition like this opens a global stage showcasing those in local film, design, architecture, music, performance and craft sectors and attracts local and international investment.
So, I don't mean to be twee about the Rainbow Nation (or maybe I do? ask the artists), but the gateway to Africa is covered in colours, from fine art to fashion, literature to live music. This overview is your key.
Literature – read, write, rewrite
What illiteracy rate? Cape Town is really rather wordy. We've seen the technodrastic future in Lauren Beukes' books Moxyland and Zoo City, we've seen our dreams drawn by Nikhil Singh in the graphic novella, Salem Brownstone: All Along The Watchtowers, and in Saracen At The Gates by Zinaid Meeran, we've lifted the veil on the secret lives of well behaved women. The city is also known for conscious publications like the journal Chimurenga and poetry gatherings at local bars.
Find local literature at: The Book Lounge, Kalahari.net, Clarke's bookshop (old, rare, out of print publications), and our Top Ten Cape Town Book Shops.
Local Literature events: The annual Cape Town Book Fair(July), Badilisha poetry exchange(November) , Monday night poetry gatherings at A Touch Of Madness, Observatory.
Theatre – onstage, offstage, what stage?
Sure, South Africa is a dramatic country. And what better way to get to know its people and past and present than acted out in front of you on stage? From an opera house at Artscape to physical theatre in public spaces, local storytellers have a lot to share.
See it at: The Baxter Theatre, Artscape, Athol Fugard in the historic District six, Magnet Theatre (mobile), The Little Theatre and check our Top Ten Cape Town Theatres.
Film – action, cut, copy
After the worldwide success of the locally shot District 9, we know we have talent. The local film industry is not all imported advert producers and exported film locations, however. Film professionals also make their own independent films. They tend to be short, because budgets are too, but they tend to tell stories you don't read about in the newspaper, as well.
See them at: Labia, and film festivals on main screen throughout the year (often free).
2010 Releases: Visa/Vie (Durban, July), Sweetheart (Cape Town).
annual event : Encounters Film Festival (August)
Look out for work by: Sean Metelerkamp, Be Phat Motel, JAR C.a.f.e., Elan Gamaker, Roy Zetisky
Music – shred, bleed, mix
With acts as disparate and self defined as afro-pop darlings Freshlyground, rock out rogues, Taxi Violence, and the electric excellence of Indian classical/jazz fusion outfit Babu, your ears are in luck.
See them at: The Assembly, Mercury Live, Zula Soundbar, Barleycorn, Asoka, Rainbow Room, Albert Hall, Speedway Cafe (acoustic), The Waiting Room (acoustic) and our overview of live music venues in Cape Town.
Live Music Events: Cape Town Minstrel's carnival (January), Cape Town Carnival (March), Cape Town Festival (March), Cape Town International Jazz Festival (March), The Pan African Space Station (September).
Get your own copies at: The African Music Store, Mabu Vinyl, Rhythm Online.
Visual and 3D arts – look, again, my friend
Whether it's fine or contemporary or both, there's art on the walls, in adverts, and even on the railway tracks. Look around and you'll find fine sculptures, too.
See local art at: João Ferreira, What If The World, The Goodman Gallery, The South African National Gallery, Misael SA Art and Design and check out our Top Ten Art Galleries in Cape Town.
Look out for artist collectives/collaborations: Am I Collective, Word Of Art,
Some mural artists to tag: Falko, faith47, mak1, Buffy
Major art events: Spier Contemporary(March to May), Infecting The City (February)
Photography – click, click zoom
Sure, the advent of digital photography means almost everyone is a photographer these days - but some are sharper, softer and quicker. See Cape Town through the eyes of its happy snappers.
See contemporary photography at: João Ferreira, Exposure, 3rd1, Focus Contemporary, Erdmann Contemporary and The Photographers' Gallery Za,
Photography events: Cape Town Month Of Photography (October)
Design - cut, crop, clip.
It's hard to separate design from our everyday lives, especially in the city of pretty where we expect professional, slick finishes on everything (including our rubbish bins).
See graphic, industrial and fashion design at: Design Indaba (February), The Loeries (October)
Fashion – snip, sew, swoon
From beach to table top, Cape Town looks good. So, too, do its residents. Following global trends, and sometimes starting them, we are not being sarcastic when we point out that Cape Town is sartorially fantastic. Wear in the world? Right here.
Buy local fashion at: Darkie, Mungo and Jemima, Memememe, Stiaan Louw
Fashion event: Cape Town Fashion Week (August)
Craft – twist, tweak, tune
Visitors are sometimes disappointed when they arrive in Cape Town. "where are the lions and zebra" they ask around the braai. Instead of hearing 'you're eating them', lucky art collectors may be told that Cape Town craft goes beyond miniature recycled plastic pigs and 3D canvases of Khayalitsha Township. The CCDI coordinates the 40 000 crafters at work in the Cape, encouraging incredible craft design and improved marketing. Some of those oil tin guitars you can even play.
Find craft at: major traffic junctions, Heartworks, The Neighbourgoods market , boutiques, galleries, and gift shops.
Jess Henson
Source: Capetownmag
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